Ronald LaPread, Founding Member and Former Bassist of The Commodores, Dies at 75

Ronald LaPread, a co-founder and former bassist of the Commodores, has died. He was 75.

LaPread’s daughter, Soraya LaPread, announced the news of her father’s passing in a social media post on Saturday (May 30).

“It is with very heavy heart that I must announce that my Father Ronald LaPread has passed,” the music producer wrote on her Instagram Stories.

Additional details surrounding his death were not available at press time.

According to the NZ Herald, LaPread died following a “sudden medical event” in Auckland. The musician had lived in New Zealand for the past 40 years.

The Commodores formed in the late 1960s after its members met as students at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Originally made up of seven members, the lineup eventually included Thomas McClary, Lionel Richie, Walter “Clyde” Orange, William King and LaPread. After touring as the opening act for the Jackson 5, the R&B/funk group signed with Motown subsidiary MoWest in 1972.

“Ron received his musical start while attending Tuskegee Institute High School and later Tuskegee University, where he helped build the foundation for a remarkable career that would impact music fans around the world,” Tuskegee Mayor Chris Lee shared in a statement on Facebook. “His talent, dedication, and success brought pride to Tuskegee and served as an inspiration to generations of young people who followed in his footsteps.”

The Commodores scored their first hit in 1974 with the synthesizer-driven instrumental “Machine Gun,” written by Milan Williams. The track reached No. 7 on Billboard’s R&B chart. The group would go on to earn seven No. 1 R&B hits, including “Slippery When Wet,” “Just To Be Close to You,” “Easy,” “Nightshift,” “Three Times a Lady” and “Still.” The latter two songs also topped the Billboard Hot 100.

Richie left the group in 1982 to pursue a solo career, while the Commodores later signed with Polydor in the late 1980s.

LaPread performed with the Commodores from 1970 to 1986, appearing on 11 of the group’s albums and contributing to hits including “Brick House,” “Three Times a Lady” and “Easy.”

After relocating to New Zealand in the late 1980s, the bassist continued performing with the Commodores during various concerts in the country.

LaPread’s death comes after the Commodores recently dropped out of Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C., though he was not part of the group’s current lineup.